KUALA LUMPUR – The federal and Selangor state governments could potentially face over a thousand aggrieved flood victims from Sri Muda, Shah Alam in a class action that seeks to sue them for negligence over their recent handling of the disaster.
At present, over 50 individuals have already expressed interest and agreed to be part of the suit, as community representatives bid to get more victims on board.
Otai Reformis 1998 secretary Abdul Razak Ismail, who is helping residents coordinate the case, said a committee has been set up among Taman Sri Muda folks to get as many people as possible to join the class action.
Speaking to The Vibes, Razak said a briefing session was held yesterday between the residents and lawyer Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal, who will be representing as class counsel for a minimal fee, with 170 forms issued.
“Some decided to take the forms home to be filled up by their children, as many who joined the meeting yesterday were elderlies and needed guidance.
“We will follow up with them. The cut-off date is the end of this month,” he said, today.
“On top of that, the residents have set up their own committee and will be knocking door to door to get more people to join in the suit.
“If this is done, I feel confident we can comfortably get between 1,000 to 1,500 signatures.”
Taman Sri Muda currently has over 9,000 houses occupied mostly by those in the middle and lower-income groups.
According to Razak, after the initial news report of the planned class action was published yesterday, two other residential groups from Kg Bukit Lanchong, Shah Alam and Kg Kubu Gajah, Sg Buloh have also contacted him over the possibility of them joining the suit.
“I am communicating with the lawyer as to whether he is able to take on more residents from other areas. This is being discussed.”
Sachpreetraj told The Vibes that his law firm Messrs Raj and Sach is seriously considering including other residential areas in Selangor in the same suit.
“We are hoping to file the case in court within the next two months.”
According to Sachpreetraj, other than the federal and Selangor governments, the suit is also expected to name the National Disaster Management Agency, Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department, Shah Alam City Council, and the district officer as defendants.
"It is their duty to ensure they deal with the flooding. This flood is not new. It has been happening almost every year. The fact that they have continued to let it happen without any noticeable change is unacceptable.
“Making matters worse is that their response this year is a historic low. It is disgusting. People died because of their inaction.”
Among other things, Sachpreetraj said, the suit is likely to claim for property and exemplary damages.
The flood that devastated major parts of the west coast last December killed over two dozen people, most of them residents of Shah Alam.
Many Malaysians took to social media to condemn the government for its lackadaisical and slow response to the disaster, with volunteers seen to be acting more efficiently during the early stages. – The Vibes, January 17, 2022
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